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Thursday, March 31, 2022

Feline Friday and Pink Saturday

 Feline Friday 

Kitten cuddles are the best snuggles.


My older brother Ed and I. He is 7 years older than me. We talk on the phone about our phamily history and it is fun reminiscing about our younger days.

Pink Saturday


A 1959 "pink" Cadillac Coupe de Ville.Cars today are plain and simply B O R I N G ! Check out those tailfins. That is a  classy and shiny car!


The year is slipping away.  April is here and and it is a short month. At least we have had a few warm days and nice weather filled with sunshine. I hope it sticks around. I am praying our tulips appears as they are popping up all over the place. Have a blessed weekend. Enjoy this new month. Thanks for stopping by. 

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

THANKFUL THURSDAY

 Thankful Thursday

This big guy does not like his carrier. I wish I had trained him on a harness. The vet we saw for his annual check up said he is not that old and I could try to walk him on a harness. We have a super long driveway so I am thinking of trying it. Any ideas or thoughts? He was upset in the carrier and the vet tried to listen to his heart and it was racing. So she asked him if he wanted to be turned to look at us? He must have because we started talking to him calmly and he settled down. He lost three lbs. and that was a good thing. But his teeth aren't terrific. There is no way he will allow me to brush his teeth so if anyone has ideas what to do...I would be thankful for any suggestions. I will say the vet we saw Monday was super nice, has several cats of her own and she was not pushing us to get his teeth cleaned under anesthesia. It is super expensive and I am very uneasy about putting him under. He is a nervous fellow when he has to go to the vet just because of the sights, sounds and smells or other animals in the area. He is a real scaredy cat when he takes his morning stroll out the back door to roll on the cement and he scurries inside quick fast if he hears the neighbor dog bark.  All in all his appointment was good except for the teeth . He came home after getting his shots and exam and he climbing into his warm bed to take a leisure nap. Thankful for his appointment and the fact that he did lose a few pounds. We changed his diet about 6 months ago and he seems more content with his new food.

Always thinking of Boots. Wondering if he may be sending some extra love to our boy today so he will be happier and healthier for a long while.




Friday, March 18, 2022

Feline Friday, My BoJon Heritage, My Husbands Irish Heritage and Humor

 

Saint Patirck driving the snakes out of Ireland. I like humor so I wanted to start with it today. 

Feline Friday


Grumpy Cat should have lived with Maxine in the comics! He is saying Kiss Me, I'm Irish, N O T ! Oh Grumpy Cat, you were so grumpy!


March 16, 2022 was the 58th anniversary of my grandfather's passing.  I was going to turn 15 in December that year and I was going into high school that September.  It was a sad day for me. A sad year really. I was very close to him. My grandmother has been in poor health most of her life and she was not as affection as he was. This was an anniversary photo. They looked very happy and he was a modern husband. He worked, he cooked, he cleaned. He was the breadwinner and the housekeeper. He cared for my grandmother until her passing in 1965.While honoring him and thinking about him this entire month of March, I cringe when I hear others talk about how difficult times are for others today. When you come from  good stock, and I know I did, you know the sacrifices they endured. The sad passing of this incredible man has never been forgotten by me. He shared many wonderful stories with me, never about the old country where he grew up. Just life lessons and like my own father, he was an incredible force in my life and always will be. 


Recently one of my mother's cousin's passed away. Her name was Martha and she is survived by 2 brothers, both older than her. Their 10 other siblings are all gone. Their father was my maternal grandmother's cousin and there are many stories to share about that incredible phamily too.  Large phamilies, they always stayed together, celebrated togather, laughes and cried together.  Something very sadly lacking in our world today. No cell phones to interupt your storytellers, no harboring ill feelings. Just love, kindness and faithfulness. 


My late father-in-law Carl Thomas is the sailor directly behind the guy walking on the right side. Oh how I miss his stories. He was a vivid storyteller. He also did an Irish jig and he loved to tease his wife's phamily that were from the LDS church. He was smart and funny and no matter how many stories he told me, I treasured them, always and forever. 


My late  mother-in-law Rita wearing his Navy blues! They were so cute together and oh the stories her friend told of their courtship.  Look at those bell bottom trousers. My all time favorites!


Like my own fahter, my FIL Carl had beautiful green green grass at their home. You can see the corner of his mint colored Dodge truck in the background. He was born in Arkansas but his people came from Ireland. We have their history all the way back to the 18th century and the original "R" man Nicholas. I believe Nicholas had 7 sons and three daughters and that is how this Irish phamily came to be. 


A phamily photo. Myhusband wearing his favorite green shirt back then. He had a head fullof hair too. My brother-in-law John is behind me and Grandpa Carl along side with Noelle and her Cabbage Patch Doll.


Also a US Navy man my husband's grandfather who passed away at the young age of 34. He was Avery Allen. A handsome man and my FIL never felt sorry for himself losing both parents when he was a small boy of 3 years old. His big sister was five (Hazel) and younger brother Allen (1). Grandpa Avery and his lovely wife Ivy who was a school teacher, came across the ocean sailing from the Northern most part of Ireland. 


Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Wordless Wednesday


                                                           Rose 03/16/2005 - 11/10/2019

 

THANKFUL THURSDAY

 Thankful Thursday


I am repeating myself at my blogs today but March 16th is the anniversary of the loss of my best feline friend Boots. He was a beautiful fellow from the day he was ours until he passed away and was a great feline loss for me. I am never going to get over him. He was my pal, he acted like a dog unless he did not want his photo taken. Bottom right photo. He was a stubborn gentleman cat. Classy, kind, friendly and a true friend. He would give Jeremy the business when Jeremy had this lower level bedroom. He would go to bed and his dresser was next to the light switch. Boots would lay in wait, hop on that dresser and somehow flip that light on. This would go on for ten minutes every night until Jeremy decided to shut his door. Boots was a character. I miss you today as much as I missed  when I had to say goodbye ten years ago. 


Rose would have had a birthday today March 16 , 2022 but she went over the Rainbow Bridge in 2019. We had a sad year that year. Too many beautiful fur babies left us. But Rose was first class. She adored Boots and she groomed him the day he passed away. She knew he was such a gentleman and he would have done the same thing for her. They were pals. She had been a tiny kitten when she joined us. Boots was an all knowing feline. They became fast friends. Everyone has a story, even these sweet felines. I like to think Boots and Rose are running free on the other side. Miss them so much.

"Cats can work out mathematically the exact place to sit that will cause the most inconvenience. " Poet Pam Brown

Pam Brown must have had a cat like my Mister Kitty a/k/a Tiger, Mister Tomkins . He makes life most inconvenient but at night when he nestles into bed, he is most annoying positioning himself so I have to swing my feet across to Avery's side of the bed. He knows all about Boots and Rose because I remind him everyday.

Thankful that all these felines came into my life. 




Monday, March 14, 2022

HAPPY TUESDAY and MAXINe CRACKS ME UP

 Happy Tuesday


Maxine were you traveling the same airlines I was ? Hmmm.that is such a coincidence!

I love happiness and Tuesday's make me happy! It means only three more days before my sweetheart can spend two whole days with me. Once my Tuesday starts to wind down I think about this. 


A cool Pinterest find.  This is a neat thing to do. I have seen this with daily Scripture, daily Gratefulness and now Happiness. C'mon get happy with me!


I found this happiness at Pinterest and it is from Happiness. Such a sweet face! Our little Roxanne use to smile in her sleep like this. I think she was content and happy in her finally forever home.


Did you have pie for PI Day? I didn;t but if I did I would have Key Lime or ......


 Have a wonderful new week and enjoy some sunshine!



Sunday, March 13, 2022

M O N D A Y, M O N D A Y

 Aw...Mondays



My paternal grandmother is in the front row. She is wearing the light colored dress, possibly white. She was actively invovled in the Women's Lodge when I was a small child. According to a couple of my cousin's, they said their grandma (Angela) "Gela", my grandparents daughter , was her replacement as Secretary when she stepped down.  Very proud of my heritage and those wonderful ancestors of mine.


"Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer." Niccolo Machiavelli

Love is....says it best, always and forever.


Thursday, March 10, 2022

Feline Friday

 Feline Friday

I saw the cutest twin kittens at Pinterest so here they are:


lovemeow.com They could be related to my kitty, but he lived with a local phamily so I sure don't know. Awfully cute though.

More prayers for Michael. He has stage IV small cell lung cancer and all he wants to do is live, so he can enjoy their grandchildren.  I chatted with his wife a bit at social media. She was a dear friend of my niece. Edna is the sweetest person. My heart breaks for her, Michael and their kids. He wants to beat this cancer and asks for prayer. Thank you.



 

Pink Saturday


May you have a restful night and wake to the morning's new light. Hereis hoping we all come back tomorrow and visit. I appreciate each one of you so much. Thank you for your kind hearts.


  

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Wordless Wednesday and Thankful Thursday

 Wordless Wednesday


Thankful Thursday


Thankful for old school TV series like Perry Mason. Aside from the cool classic cars, it was clean entertainment. 

Thankful that there was a time in the USA when cool cars rolled off the assembly line and were built with American made steel. I know this because my father was a steel worker and he rolled those rails in the rail mill.

Thankful for memories of yesterday as we have to learn to live in the moment and wait for the future


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Thankful for all the feline lovers who have rescued fur babies. This Pinterest photo has a list of Halloween inspired names.


Thankful for those who rescue pups too. Although our Finn is not a rescue, but rather an unexpected product of my girl Lulu he was rescued by our son-in-law Zach. His sweet lil mom could not get him out of the birth sac. Zach stepped in and saved this fellow. He said , he is mine, he is my son! It was a sweet moment.





Monday, March 7, 2022

Happy Tuesday and Maxine Cracks Me Up

 Happy Tuesday Happiness is always warm and welcoming. Grateful to share here.


A favorite Pinterest find. Tea and a good book. Yes, please!


A wonderful tea room closed permanently due to  2020. Jeanette was a wonderful owner and she made all of the goodies herself. I was broken hearted when I found out it was closed forever. Too many overpriced tea shops/houses/room. Some places it is all about the cash flow. Other places mix alcohol with tea and that is not a proper tea time.  sigh...


Maxine is right on on this one! 


A Pinterest find on tea and poetry.


A favorite cup of tea, London Fog Tea. My old friend Earl Grey, my faithful frother, and a tall tea cup. Earl came over from England so I could have some of my favorite tea.  S M I L E 



Aw...Mondays

 I have had the worse couple of days. Friday, trying to get my mammogram and bone density appointment scheduled together . Worst experience ever. Four persons later, one who tried to insist I would take an appointment she wanted me to have! I have limited days and times I can go to appointment. It is no one's business why. The first one was incredibly snarky and the second one clueless. The third one was pushy and number four, their over  the top, overly exaggerated cheery one who must have heard the third say, "I am finished with the medical field. Since you can not get decent care or even a decent appointment that you want, I might be better off just never going to any of these appointments. I am dead serious." Ever since 2020 medical care has fallen into the toilet bowl.  I don't think I mentioned it took me two days to get my appointment scheduled too! Had I treated patients in this manner, when I was employed in the medical field for  35 years, I would not have held the jobs I did. I respected my patients that saw the providers I worked for. I treated them  with total kindness and concern. Sadly, that hardly exists today. 


This guy has sat next to me as I tried to get this appointment scheduled.  Even he seems preplexed by it all! Aw...Mondays


This is the early A.M. at my house today, Spring is not here nor is it  blooming. The cold weather has worn out it's welcome. But the sunrise was magnificent, as always. 

Beth Russo let us know that her brother Bob passed away. He had an infect they could not contain. It is a very sad for the eartly loss of this once vibrant gentle man. But Beth knows she will see her big brother in heaven someday and that is where  her joy rubbed off onto me. Please remember Beth and her brother's wife and children in your prayers. We just sent him birthday cards.

I also have a birthday card request for a former blogger Suzanne. She has a milestone birthday and her daughter asked everyone to flood her mailbox with cards. Suzanne is a wonderful gal. She is precious to me and you may e mail me if you need her address and are interested in sending her a birthday wish. 

Sadness and Joy. Most days,  they bring out the absolute best in most everyone I journey along the road of life with.


Love is...quiets my heart every single day and has for over 46 years since the day I first met my husband on March 9, 1976. He was moving around a lot back than but we ended up together 7 years later and neither one of us has one regret about it all.

Finally, another Sparks to start off the week. 

Here is to having a wonderful new week. I spent the weekend cooking and baking so we have a bounty of good things to eat. Enjoy your blessings and remember to keep counting them. I hope you all have a wonderful evening. 






Friday, March 4, 2022

Feline Friday and Pink Saturday

 

Feline Friday

Daphne is hard to capture. She likes to disappear into several hiding places that she has found. She is a quiet girl and likes to come out at  breakfast or dinnertime. She also loves to hang out in the bathroom in case she needs an extra cold drink from the faucet. The top of the cat tree is a favorite spot to watch the world go by.


A pretty pink light fixture from lowes.com. Please visit Pink Saturday I think it would look lovely in a pretty pink room.


Thursday, March 3, 2022

THANKFUL THURSDAY / Dr. Seuss Day

Doctor Seuss Day! 


Photo courtesy of Netwellth

 Thankful Thursday So much to be be thankful for today. I have had my dad on my mind, as it is coming up on the 37th anniversary of his passing. He and I had many good conversations as I grew older. I remember him telling me not to get too comfortable with the ways of the world. He said, in the end the only thing that matters is God. So thankful for an earthly father who praised the Heavenly One.

"Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify. Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862). US author, essayist, naturalist, poet and philosopher. He is best known for work "Walden" a reflect of simple living among natural surroundings. He is also known for his essay, "Civil Disobedience", an argument for disobedience to an unjust state. Thankful I studied this incredibly talented man in my school days.

Five years ago on March 2, 2016, the world of blogging and friendship lost one of the finest ladies I was honored to know: Sally DiStefano. This kind heart hosted "Blue Monday" and Sally will forever remain in my heart until I see her again in heaven. Her final post, was her witness to the love and appreciation of knowing her Savior Jesus Christ. She was bold in her faith, never pushy, just simply gentle and kind. I remembering reading all the wonderful comments about her at social media. One young lady, a mother herself, with her own young children said Sally taught her English class. At the time, this young lady had no desire to to learn all the nonsense Sally was teaching. But she set Sally's words inside her heart. She said she had the life she had today as a result of Sally's kindest as a teacher and reaching out to help even those who showed no interest. I am forever grateful, joyful, thankful and honored for having had the pleasure to know this fine lady here.


Although it is not Monday, this is my favorite Blue Monday I posted with Sally . This is "Lambie Pie", also known as Harrison James. We were at the Denver Zoo and it was a cold blue day but we had fun seeing all the animals and enjoying the company of several of the grands. Here is to you Sweet Sally, for all those Blue Monday's you faithfully posted even when you were ill and waiting for results at the hospital . If you did not know Sally. Even if you knew her, refresh your mind and visit her final post here Smiling Sally.